Butterflies of
Africa
Common Missile
Meza meza
HEWITSON, 1877
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
HESPERIINAE
Tribe -
Meza meza,
Bobiri forest, Ghana
Introduction
The genus Meza comprises
of 9 small species, all of which are found in sub-Saharan
Africa.
Meza meza is a west African species found from Ghana to Angola.
Habitats
This species is found in forest edge habitats at altitudes between sea level and
about 800m.
Lifecycle
The larva has been reported as feeding on
the grass Paspalum ( Poaceae ) but all other
members of this genus feed on dicotyledons including Linaceae, Fabaceae and
Dichapetalaceae.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies can be found in one's and two's in forest edge
habitats e.g. along logging roads and in glades. In the early
morning sunshine they bask on bushes and low herbage, adopting the
typical Hesperiine posture as illustrated at the top of this page.
Later in the day they retire to semi-shaded areas, often beneath
trees, but periodically emerge to nectar at the flowers of nearby
herbaceous plants. When nectaring they usually hold their wings
erect over the back.
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